Cabinet Capers: Erasing the Past

This entire process has been very entertaining for me. I live alone, as far as other humans go, and have learned that I can laugh out loud at myself without fear of wondering if I should be committed. Crazy people don’t know they’re crazy. I’m frakkin’ nuts! So by that logic I am doing okay.

I laugh frequently at the gross things my house presents, and to be honest it’s almost daily.  Between Pete occasionally sharting in the bed (twice! really??!) and the remnants of German cockroach infestation, I have seen my share of poop; especially for being a non-parent.  I should rename this blog: Easty’s House of Poop, aka EHOP. Ha! #EHOP

When last we left our heroes, the cabinet doors were drying after a couple coats of primer and my head was pounding. 

Time to eradicate the past horrors from the kitchen and bring this baby into a new era of well-being! I donned the rubber gloves and a bucket of soapy water and got to scrubbing.

Before (eeeewww)

After (aaahhhh)

Why yes!That is a good, solid layer of roach poop/pieces. I gagged and laughed my way through it because if I can’t laugh at really disgusting stuff, life gets just a little too hard. Here are the two big guys all scrubbed down and degreased (the same process as the doors.)

After Brett got the new walls in, we did some reordering of the cabinets to make the kitchen a little more cohesive. There used to be a single unit over by the refrigerator that wedged it tightly against the wall and provided a ridiculously small surface area.  So we moved it over to the cabinet next to the stove to create more counter space and so the fridge could breathe. The orange arrows below show the move, but please forgive the terribleness of the rendering:

See that green arrow? The original plan was to have a double upper cabinet with glass inserts installed in the door panels. Then this happened:

So I was like, “Suck it, jigsaw! I’m going all-open shelving!”

And that’s the new plan. This is how I roll.

Once all the cabinets were in place it was time for a light sanding and primer.

Pete was super helpful and not in the way at all.

 

BTdubs, my dog looks dead but I swear he’s just really hot and tired. It was 101 degrees outside (it’s the duurty south ya’ll) and with all the indoor/outdoor movement, plus the power switching on and off to rewire some of the electrical, it was about 97 degrees in the kitchen.  Poor Pete! He works so hard.

Brett secured all of the cabinets to the wall and installed the counter-top and sink. I broke out the wood filler once again (woot!) to erase the past lines between the units so it looks like one solid piece of furniture. I plan to put “feet” at the base of the cabinets later on so that you really get a sense of furniture-ness and not these-are-standard-box-store-cabinets-ness. whew.

Oh! And Brett rigged the sink cabinet to make it seem like it was built for an apron sink! Which of course, it totally wasn’t. In fact, we had to go out and purchase a new sink unit (hello unexpected reno cost!) because the original cabinet fell apart when we removed it from the wall. Years of water damage corroded the particle board and it just collapsed in my hands. The good news is that Lowe’s had an unfinished version in-stock for $105 that blended well with the originals. Added bonus: I did not have to de-poop that one!

Before

After!

     

After sanding everything down, giving it another couple coats of primer, it was finally time to break out the real paint.



Ooooo low odor! No VOCs? Now we’re talkin’! I used Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint in Cloud Cover, satin finish; quite literally ripped this one off from the Petersik’s. I’ve spent enough viral time in their kitchen to know that this is a great color and finish. And they highly recommended it, which is more than enough for me! Sold!

Next comes the hardware phase plus censored expletives! Good, good times!

Hugs,
~Easty

Cabinet Capers: Prep Stage

Let's back-track a couple months!

While Brett The Handy-Man broke his tail on the walls, sink and countertops, I went quite easy on myself (for now) and focused on the cabinetry.

Rather than drop a cool $7 grand on custom cabinets (meeeps!), I decided to give my builder cabinets a refresh and save on my renovation costs.  I turned to my DIY gurus over at Young House Love for a little bit of advice, but wound up “borrowing” their entire shopping list and process.  Hey, if it works, why reinvent the wheel?  I am so not original!

Since Sherry and John Petersik were just winding their kitchen reno down as I was embarking on mine, I thought: how serendipitous!  I don’t know what I would do without this lovely duo and their DIY advice. They make me want to move to Richmond, VA just so I can be BFFs with them.  That didn't come off as creepers did it? Sorry. Back to the whole point of this post because I have clearly strayed:

First, I had to take all of the drawers out and the doors off, and strip everything of its hardware.

 

<<Sidebar: I did my best to keep the hardware that I would be reusing together. I numbered the six lower cabinets and labeled cups to keep the shtufff in.  It was a valiant effort that fell by the wayside in the end.>>

I started prepping the decorative panels by using sprayable Next Degreaser from Home Depot. It was really easy to use, low VOC (but still pretty potent) and non-flammable, because you know I left it on the gas stove top, like, a lot.

Shake it, spray it, let in soak a little and scrub it girl! The directions said to scrub with a rag, but based on the sheer amount of poop-ature I have found, I figured I should use heavy-duty scouring pads.  Then the rag for clean-up/wipe-down.

The plank on the top has been degreased and the one on the bottom has not.  See how much light the bottom one reflects? That’s because it’s slimy and gross and the top one is squeeeky clean!

Next came the really fun part: filling up the old hardware holes! I have a brand new obsession over wood filler.  It’s a seriously good time!

Again, based on what the Petersik’s suggested, I used Elmer’s Pro Wood Filler found at Home Depot.  Slap it on there…

 
…smoosh it in…

…scrape it off…

…let dry and repeat!  Each plank needed about two layers of gook to make it flush with the board.

Here’s everybody all solidified and ready for some sanding action:

I love my little Mouse by Black&Decker! She really gets the job done, even down to those tough corners.

Listen to me; I sound like I used to do blow with the ShamWow! guy. 

Next came another wipe-down with a damp cloth and a couple coats of primer. I used Benjamin Moore’s Stix primer, which covered really well but is really high in VOCs (or at least it felt like it, high being the operative word.) Lord knows I really don’t like feeling that way, so I would not recommend using it in a poorly ventilated room.

YHL recommended Zinsser Smart Prime, and after this experience I totally went out and bought some of that instead. It's hard to find in Tuscaloosa, but not impossible! Stix certainly got the job done but not without some provisions:

An entire family-size bag of mini powdered doughnuts would have also been appropriate, but I am trying to maintain my girlish figure, thank you.

More cabinetry to come, friends! Remain on the edge of you seats!

~Easty-Lou

Baby's First Mood Board

So I never really understood the concept of a Mood Board until I watched my favorite DIY/blogger couple whip one up and then start using it for their master bathroom.  Then it made sense!  I am one of those folks who learns by example, a "Kinesthetic" if you will, so I decided to throw one together for my kitchen.  Here it goes:

1.  Track lighting
2.  Apron sink
3.  New countertop
4.  New hardware
5.  New faucet
6.  Red compost pail
7.  Black and white floor tile
8.  Red mixer
9.  Wall mount hood
10. My tea towel art
11. Red microwave
12. Pendant lamp
13. Utility chairs I picked up at an antique store and spray painted grellow for a little kerrrrr-pow

And there you have it! Mood boards really do give you a sense of what the room is going to feel like; it's basically just missing the walls.  This could get very addictive...I will try to keep my moody addiction on the DL, but I may not be able to help myself.  Consider yourself warned, people!

Go ahead and poke the bear,
~Easty

Mid-Century Madness

I woke up this morning to the sound of someone running around on my roof. Happy Printemps everybody! Welcome back little furry critters!

I've been so busy around the house that I have neglected my precious baby blog over the last couple of weeks.  Luckily, I am motivated enough to keep improving my space- the blog is a preemptive strike against those days when I am not motivated what-so-ever (which totally happens when I get the blues.)

Like most DIYers, I am addicted to consignment shops, antique malls and thrift stores.  My favorite spot right now is Skyland Antique Mall because of the mid-century retro booth they have in the basement. Mmmmm... mid-century. I am obsessed. They might as well put a big, flashing marquee over it that reads : DON'T BOTHER. THIS HAS ALL BEEN CLAIMED BY EASTY.

If I were my dog, I would have already peed all over the wares in that section. Graphic, I know, but that is basically what I did when I saw this:

Just look at those classic '50s leggies! 

It doesn't look like much from the picture, but this little baby is just oozing with potential.  It's a record stand! Complete with slots to hold my non-existent vinyl...oh I have plans for you my precious. PRECIOUS [insert maniacal hissing and hand-wringing here]

I am picturing a black-and-white chevron motif, but more on that later.  Let's just call this the 'Before' post on this one.

Here is another Before of another faboobulous find:

Okay, I got a little excited (impulsive) and took the seat off the frame before taking the actual 'Before' shot, so let's call this pic a Before 1.25. Note the scuzziness on the sides from years of sitting in a smoking household. I also found a lollypop stick stuck between the seat and the frame.  Part of me was all, "Eeeeewwww," and another part (the inner-anthropologist) was all, "Hmm, I wonder how old this is? I wonder if the child who left this here is my age now, or older?" And then I promptly threw it away. Moving on.

Oh yeah, I'm gonna reupholster this bad boy.  Oh no, I have no idea what I am doing.  I'm just doing it! 

Good-bye weird, sticky blue vinyl! Hello blind ambition! Exclamation! Exclamation!

My New Passion for Stripping

If you decided to read this because you thought there might be human nudity, I suggest you stop reading now before you get disappointed.  I'm talking about paint stripping and naked wood.  I love it, I love it, I love it!

About a month ago I ripped down the weird, country-kitchen-type shelving that came in my master-bath because it was, well, weird.  That room is going to be so funky-awesome ("badical" as my friend Yazzie says) and the country shelving was ruining my vision.  I took it down, removed the brackets and boom! Suddenly reclaimed wood!

Reclaimed wood I can use to build the banquette table for the kitchen...yay!  I have four aux natural three-foot pieces, and one six-foot piece.  One problem: the six-footer had been painted white and used to house red candles.  Time to break out the serious chemicals and goggles!

Before shot and materials

Glob it on, baby! 

Just look at those wrinkles!

Ohhhhhh yeah....

Whoooo! Take it all off!

Whew!  It took a lot of elbow grease to strip it all the way down, but it was totally worth it.  It is a much lighter patina than the other pieces, but I am going to saw it in quarters and mix the pieces together to create visual interest on the table top.  I found a restaurant-style, cast iron table base for about $27.00 online from Atlanta Fixture that should work perfectly.

Here it is, all alone and naked.

 And here it is with it's darker counter-parts, or should I say, table-parts?

Say Cheese!

Speaking of the banquette seating, have I shown you the kitchen plans? I haven't?? Here you go:

Note the apron sink. I got it this past weekend at Ikea!!

So this thing is really going down.  I am jazzed, really and truly.  More madness to come!

~Easty

Decisions, decisions

I died this week.  Just for a couple days but then I got better.

That 24-hour stomach virus hit me like a ton of half-full paint cans and I was down for the count.  Fortunately I have some of the most amazing parents who knew exactly what to do, when all I knew to do was not move.  My mom came over with enough provisions to get us through Y2k, and my dad came over at just the right moment with (insert the sound of angels' voices) aspirin. Much better!

Now that I don't have to eat like a toddler anymore,

Chicken fingers, tots and Motts

I figured it was time to start in on the house again, light duty.  So I need some help deciding on what color to paint my front door.  I found an incredible deal at SignatureHardware.com on a door knocker.

Doctor's door knocker in antique brass

The best part about it is that it doubles as a wreath hook during the holiday season and is flat enough that I can keep the glass storm door up.  (I don't love the storm door but Pete likes to look out onto the world.)


So, decision time. Yellow or red door? What do you think? I honestly cannot decide!

The Weekend Warrior - Part 2

The softer side of my warrioress-ness:

After a fairly restless night getting used to my hyper house guest,

Manny!

Petey giving me the put-the-camera-down look

I finally tackled that throw pillow project I've been putting off for reasons including but not limited to: a) I needed an iron/ironing board, b) I needed at least two hours of quiet, and c) I am still a little afraid of my sewing machine.  One time (at band camp) I was using the wrong thickness of needle to sew some denim - the machine is called the BabyLock Denim Pro II for goodness sake - and it broke off and hit me in the lip.  It really hurt but my first thought was, "Thank God it wasn't my eye!"

Since then I've been wary of the thing and have always worn glasses/sunglasses/ safety goggles when putting it to use.  I have a lot of meshugas, I know.  As my dear Aunt Molly would say, I may be high maintenance but at least I'm self-maintaining.  The whole point of me blogging this stuff is to document my learning process when it comes to DIY and overcoming my fears.


I get daily emails from Joss & Main, One Kings Lane, Fab, Beyond the Rack, My Habit and The Foundry, which are all websites listing daily designer sales up to 80% off retail value.  I am addicted to scouring these sites but am extremely restrained when it comes to buying.  Only on a rare occasion will a deal so fabulous catch my attention that I throw down the plastic for a piece of bargain basement gold.  Most recently it was a Fab.com tea towel that will be framed to hang over the future breakfast nook...more on that later when it arrives in 10 to 22 days.


The most common pieces that I rummage through are linens and decor.  Graphic prints are so hot right now and I love yellow and white chevron throw pillows, but not at the $65+ price tag!  So I popped into the local fabric store when James was in town, found the very print I was looking for and a 16x16" pillow form to work with.  That lovely yard of yellow and white goodness has been sitting on my sewing table for a month and I no longer had excuses a and b standing in my way.  Time to kick the dogs outside and conquer c!

Sometimes I plan and plan and plan, other times I just jump right in.  This time was a jumping plan.  Without a pattern to work with (not that I would really know what to do with one if I had it) I started measuring and estimating that I would give myself an extra two inches on each side to work with.

20x20" square

There was some pinning, some ironing, a lot of stitching, peddling and some cussing, but before long it was starting to look like a pillow!

Now how do I finish this? That took the most time out of anything.  After two broken needles and no blindness, I decided to hand stitched it shut and spot clean later, I guess.

Not too shabby for my first attempt at pillowry!

Here it is in action

 I quickly moved it to a safer location because of this guy and his shredding ways.

Ya'll come back now ya hear?!
~Easty